Despite the naysayers who insisted that my first time in Italy should be somewhere "nicer" (like Venice or Rome), I decided that a visit to Milan completely warranted my time - so I spontaneously booked my flights and the rest was history. In the land where culture meets commerce, you'll find hidden treasure on every street, between iconic landmarks and esteemed establishments. It was four days of wandering on foot (with the occasional Metro ride here and there), experiencing Milanese flavours, and falling in love with a culture full of romance. Here are some snaps from my time there and a list of places you really ought to visit.

Inconspicuously nestled among pastel coloured buildings on an unassuming street is a place where you can have lunch in a flower shop - need I say more to entice you? Flowers and food are two things guaranteed to put a smile on my face. Extra points if they're both present at the same time, which is precisely why Potafiori is the one place that I recommend to everyone visiting Milano. This flower shop, restaurant, cocktail bar and live music lounge hybrid always has something to offer everyone, even if you're not there to grab a bite (you really should though). Just as the variety of flowers that they sell, their menu full of fresh, seasonal ingredients is always changing according to the time of year. During my recent trip to Milan, the dishes that made it to the table included a fresh garden salad topped with edible flowers, a steamy soufflé, seafood conchiglie, gnocchi in cream sauce and an exceptionally divine mango panna cotta. I just drooled a little while typing that out. Add this one to your bucket list, kids. It's worth it.